Roadside Biologist & Assistant Roadside Biologist

Salary: $31.84 - $38.80 Hourly
Location : Dallas Center, IA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: DC00903
Department: Secondary Roads
Division: Roadside IRVM
Opening Date: 05/05/2026
Closing Date: 5/19/2026 4:30 PM Central

Job Description
Roadside Biologist Position
This position is responsible for coordinating the operations of the Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management program. This position has direct supervision over Assistant Roadside Biologist, Roadside Technician, and other seasonal employees.
Job Duties

• Controls noxious weed, invasive species, brush, and trees through mechanical or chemical methods, including mowing, cutting, herbicide spraying, prescribed fire, or other appropriate methods.
• Performs duties of the County Weed Commissioner through identification of noxious weed problem areas and weed control programs.
• Performs vegetative and/or mechanical stabilization of areas disturbed by construction and maintenance activities within the county right-of-way.
• Develops and maintains budget for IRVM related work, including tracking expenditures and revenues as well as writing grants.
• Performs wetland delineations and writes reports as needed.
• Monitors the Dallas County wetland bank and submits monitoring reports to the appropriate local, state, and federal agencies.
• Assists the Dallas County Conservation Department in the management of Dallas County wetland bank.
• Supervises a crew for various types of work including but not limited to noxious weed/brush control, mowing, prescribed burning, seeding, and equipment operation.
• Participates in the recruitment and selection of new hires; conducts training; conducts performance evaluations and takes disciplinary action as appropriate.
• Informs and educates the public concerning roadside vegetation management techniques.
• Hauling equipment and/or materials in trucks or trucks with trailers; and cleaning up debris within road rights-of-way.
• Operates assigned equipment skillfully, safely, and in conformance with regulations and directions.
• Performs preventative maintenance functions on Secondary Roads equipment.
• Designs and fabricates special equipment, inspect, adjust, repair or replace worn out or defective parts of equipment.
• Ensures the use of proper safety devices, equipment, and signs on construction and maintenance projects.
• Trains employees in the operation of specified equipment.
• Performs related duties.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's Degree in Natural Resources or related field.
• One to three years experience in professional vegetation management, commercial pesticide application, prairie ecology and management, erosion control, plant or seed propagation and processing.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain Commercial Drivers License Class A.
• Ability to obtain applicable continuing education recertification hours including S-130 - Firefighter Training.
• Ability to obtain an Iowa Commercial Pesticide Applicators License including Category 1A and six (6) qualifications.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Knowledge of basic mechanical principles.
• Knowledge of the safe operation of specialized equipment.
• Knowledge of advanced methods and techniques in vegetation establishment, management. and control.
• Knowledge of advanced principles and practices of noxious weed control and the safe use of roadside chemicals.
• Knowledge of elementary engineering principles and practices involved in road maintenance and construction.
• Knowledge of advanced erosion control principles.
• Knowledge of advanced wetland delineation.
• Knowledge of fundamental PC applications including Microsoft Office and ArcGIS.
• Skill in correctly identifying relevant species of trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers, noxious weeds, and invasive species.
• Skill in the operation of medium to heavy trucks, trailers, tractors and attachments, mowers, loaders, chainsaws, wood chippers and other equipment normally used in highway construction or maintenance including auxiliary or truck mounted attachments.
• Skill in maintaining appropriate seeding and spraying records.
• Skill in operating acetylene, arc welding, wire welding, and plasma cutting equipment.
• Skill in operating spraying equipment and utilizing roadside chemicals safely.
• Skill in understanding and following written and oral directions.

Assistant Roadside Biologist Position

This position is responsible for assisting in coordinating the operations of the Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management program. This position has direct supervision over Roadside Technician.
Job Duties

• Assists the Roadside Biologist with the control of noxious weed, invasive species, brush, and trees through mechanical or chemical methods, including mowing, cutting, herbicide spraying, prescribed fire, or other appropriate methods.
• Assists the County Weed Commissioner with identification of noxious weed problem areas and weed control programs.
• Assists the Roadside Biologist in performing vegetative and/or mechanical stabilization of areas disturbed by construction and maintenance activities within the County right of way.
• Assists with the development and maintenance of the budget for IRVM related work, including tracking expenditures and revenues as well as writing grants.
• Assists with wetland delineations and monitoring of Dallas County wetland bank.
• Assists the Dallas County Conservation Department in the management of the Dallas County wetland bank.
• Informs and educates the public concerning roadside management techniques.
• Supervises a crew for various types of work including but not limited to noxious weed/brush control, mowing, prescribed burning, seeding, and equipment operation.
• Performs manual labor and operates equipment in a wide range of highway construction and maintenance activities such as but not limited to: maintaining roadside vegetation using various treatment methods including but not limited to mechanical, mowing, prescribed burning, chemical application, and competitive seeding; hauling equipment and/or materials in trucks or trucks with trailers; plowing snow when needed; spreading salt and sand on roadway surfaces for winter roadway maintenance; and cleaning up debris within road rights-of-way.
• Performs duties and functions of the Roadside Biologist in their absence or as directed.
• Operates assigned equipment skillfully, safely, and in conformance with regulations and directions.
• Performs preventative maintenance functions on Secondary Roads equipment.
• Designs and fabricates special equipment; inspects, adjusts, repairs or replaces worn out or defective parts of equipment.
• Ensures the deployment of proper safety devices, equipment, and signs on construction and maintenance projects.
• Trains employees in the operation of specified equipment.
• Performs duties of an Operator II when necessary.
• Performs related duties.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's Degree in Natural Resources or related field Biology, Botany, Horticulture, or related field.
• One to three years progressive work related experience in professional vegetation management, commercial pesticide applications, prairie ecology and management, erosion control, plant or seed propagation and processing.
• Possession of or ability to obtain, an Iowa Commercial Pesticide Applicators License including Category 1A and four (4) qualifications.
• Possession of or ability to obtain certification or completion of training in National Wildfire Coordinating Group S-130 - Firefighter Training and S190 - Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Training.
• Possess of or ability to readily obtain certification or completion of training in US Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory IV Wetland Delineation.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Knowledge of intermediate mechanical principles.
• Knowledge of the safe operation of specialized equipment.
• Knowledge of intermediate/advanced methods and techniques in vegetation establishment, management and control.
• Knowledge of intermediate/advanced principles and practices of noxious weed control and safe use of roadside chemicals.
• Knowledge of elementary engineering principles and practices involved in road maintenance and construction.
• Knowledge of intermediate/advanced erosion control principles
• Knowledge of intermediate/advanced wetland delineation.
• Knowledge of fundamental PC applications including Microsoft Office and ArcGIS.
• Skill in the correct identification of relevant species of trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers, noxious weeds, and invasive species.
• Skill in operating medium to heavy trucks, trailers, tractors and attachments, mowers, loaders, chainsaws, wood chippers and other equipment normally used in highway construction or maintenance including auxiliary or truck mounted attachments.
• Skill in maintaining appropriate seeding and spraying records.
• Skill in operating acetylene, arc welding, wire welding and plasma cutting equipment.
• Skill in operation spraying equipment and utilizing roadside chemicals safely.
• Skill in understanding and following written and oral directions.
• Skill in performing manual labor (moderate to heavy) for extended periods of time.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with co-workers and the public.

Supplemental Information

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The work is typically performed while intermittently sitting, standing, stooping, bending, crouching or walking. The employee frequently lifts light and heavy objects, climbs ladders, uses tools or equipment requiring a high degree of dexterity, distinguishes between shades of color, and utilizes the sense of smell.
• The work is typically performed in an office and outdoors, occasionally in cold or inclement weather. The employee is exposed to herbicides, dust, dirt, grease, machinery with moving parts, and occasional cold or inclement weather. Work required the use of protective devices such as masks, goggles, gloves, etc.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this job.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Dallas County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Dallas County participates in E-Verify.
Full-time employees are defined as those that are regularly scheduled to work at least 40 hours per week. Full-time employees are eligible for benefits at the 1st of the month following their first 30 days as a Dallas County employee, unless otherwise noted.

• Health benefits {medical, dental, vision} are offered as a complete health insurance package; however, employees may choose to accept dental and/or vision coverage only for an alternate monthly rate
  • Complete package: Single plan- $25.83/month; Family plan- $245.96/month
  • Dental only: Single plan - $0 (premium covered by the County); Family plan- $27.40/month
  • Vision: Single plan - $0 (premium covered by the County); Family plan - $10.58/month
• Participation in the IPERS retirement plan, beginning the first day of employment
• Long Term Disability which covers 66.66% of the employee's monthly salary after a 120 day waiting period - Premium fully paid by the County
• Term Life Insurance policy of $50,000 for the employee - Premium fully paid by the County
• Supplemental Term Life Insurance available for the employee and eligible dependents - Premium paid fully by the employee
• Flex Spending Account (pre-tax) - Premium paid by employee. Medical: $2750/year limit; Dependent Care: $5000/year limit
• 11 paid holidays per year
• 1 floating holiday per year
• Vacation time - Regular, full-time Department Heads/Elected Officials starting at 4.62 hours/pay period (120 hours/year); Regular, full-time employee accrual starting at 3.08 hours/pay period (80 hours/year; Regular, full-time, 24 or 48 hour shift EMS employee accrual starting at 2.31 hours/pay period (60 hours/year)
• Sick time - Regular, full-time employee accrual at 5.54 hours/pay period (144 hours/year); Regular, full-time, 24 or 48 hour shift EMS employee accrual at 7.75 hours/pay period (201.6 hours/year)
• Employee Assistance Program - Premium fully paid by the County
• AFLAC Supplemental Policies - Premium fully paid by the employee

County sponsored insurance premiums are pre-tax withholdings.

Part time workers do not qualify for insurance unless necessary qualifications are met, however, part-time employees may qualify for IPERS.